About
There is so much to learn from the success of fellow growers. But no plan is one-size fits all. This panel discussion features agronomy experts sharing tips on how to view your own operation through the lens of its soil data and adapt your crop nutrition plan to your fields’ precise needs.
Fast Facts
1. Conducting on-farm research requires patience.
Grower Layne Miles adds that it’s important to keep going, even if the results weren’t what you expected.
“If it didn’t happen in year one, keep trying it. If it didn’t happen in years two, three or four, then you probably shouldn’t apply the change to your whole operation.”
In addition to testing on your own land, reviewing agronomic research can also provide important information when considering new products to try and how to
apply them.
Read Permanent Plot Research: How, Why and What it Means
2. Following best practices will ensure your research produces helpful results.
Zelinko recommends the following best practices when implementing on-farm research:
- Pick one variable to test.
- Test in a uniform field with large enough acreage to overcome any field variables that may exist.
- Replicate your trial in two or three locations, incorporating about 80 acres total.
- Use the technology available to you for data collection and make sure it’s well-calibrated.
The final step? Use the data you gather to guide your decisions for next year.
Read Cornell University Fast Fact Sheet: On-Farm Research
3. Consistency is Key.
Grower and retailer Blake Reynolds relies on multi-year data to inform many of his crop nutrition decisions.
“The longer we can run trials, the more and better information we’ll have,” says Reynolds. He notes consistency also plays a role in data’s value. “Consistent data is more useful long-term.”
Event Videos
Check out other video resources to help you elevate your crop nutrition plan.
